Energy is essential to human survival and development, and the way we develop low-carbon energy will be of great significance to the future of humanity. Since the First Industrial Revolution, the extensive use of fossil fuels has propelled human progress, but has also caused major problems, such as resource depletion, climate change, and geopolitical tension. As a result, the international community widely recognizes the importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources and using energy in a sustainable way to promote people’s wellbeing and drive long-term economic growth.
Over the past 75 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, China has experienced rapid growth in its energy sector, and has emerged as the largest energy producer and consumer in the world. After the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, China’s energy sector entered a stage of high-quality development. In 2014, President Xi Jinping proposed a new energy security strategy aimed at revolutionizing consumption, supply, technology, and institutions, while strengthening all-round international cooperation. This strategy has charted the course and laid out the fundamental principles for China’s energy development in the new era. Guided by this strategy, China is pursuing a path of energy transition that is suited to its actual conditions, follows the general trends of global development, and meets the changing needs of our times.
Based on high-quality development, China’s energy transition aims to build a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system. This initiative will provide a strong guarantee for the country’s economic and social development and meet the people’s growing desire for a better life.
With a view to eco-environmental progress, China’s energy transition is gathering pace to develop a new model of energy consumption that is economical, efficient, green and inclusive. This will create synergies for cutting carbon emissions, reducing pollution, expanding green development, and stimulating economic growth, with the ultimate goal of building harmony between humanity and nature.
Acting on the vision of a global community of shared future, China is committed to advancing its energy transition by strengthening international cooperation in green energy. As a strong advocate of global energy transition, China is prepared to collaborate with other countries to build a future of sustainable energy. China respects the energy transition path independently chosen by other developing countries based on their national conditions and advances its energy transition in an equitable, just and orderly fashion.
The Chinese government is publishing this white paper to document China’s successful actions and historic achievements in energy transition over the past decade.
I. China’s Path of Energy Transition in the New Era
The world is currently witnessing a new revolution in science, technology and industry. Green and low-carbon development, digital and intelligent technology, and sustainability have become the overwhelming trends of our times. Despite differences in development stages and available resources, all countries share the goal and challenge of securing their energy supply and achieving a green and low-carbon transition. Guided by its new energy security strategy, China has made significant progress in its energy transition, contributing its solutions to a key global issue of our time, demonstrating its approach to governance, and fulfilling its responsibility as a major country.
2. Energy Transition Is the Only Way Forward
The development and utilization of energy is an important aspect of the interaction between humanity and nature. When reviewing the history of human development, we see that every significant human progress is fundamentally tied to changes in energy extraction and utilization and shifts in primary energy sources.
Over the years, China has established a comprehensive energy supply system encompassing coal, oil, gas, nuclear, hydro, wind, and photovoltaic (PV) energy, providing robust impetus for the fast and sustained development of the economy and society.
China’s drive towards all-round socialist modernization has brought about new requirements for high-quality energy development. Despite being the world’s largest developing country, China has comparatively low per-capita energy consumption. As the country has not yet completed its industrialization and urbanization, however, its energy demand is likely to continue growing. With an industrial structure dominated by heavy industry and an energy mix primarily based on coal, China will continue to face resource and environmental constraints in the long run. Energy transition is the fundamental solution to the above challenges.
China’s energy transition focuses on transforming the model and drivers of energy development by achieving the substitution of primary energy sources from fossil fuels to non-fossil fuels. This transition is essential for the country to overcome resource and environmental constraints and achieve its peak carbon and carbon neutrality goals. It is vital for the country to seize the opportunities brought about by the latest round of revolutionary changes in science, technology and industry and foster new quality productive forces. It is crucial for the country to establish green ways of production and life and realize high-quality economic and social development. It is key for the country to fulfill its responsibility as a major country and contribute to a global community of shared future. For these reasons, China has taken proactive actions to advance its energy transition and will stay committed to this initiative as an imperative for a better future.
